Tsjetsjenië

Persoverzicht Tsjetsjenië - oktober 2018

2 oktober 2018

Media: EC admits provision of grants to Russian rights defenders in connection with persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya: RIA-Novosti reports, citing EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Stylianides, that in 2017 the EU provided emergency grants to Russian human rights defenders in connection with the reported persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya. Stylianides did not disclose the beneficiaries of EU assistance. (RIAN)

3 oktober 2018

Scenarios for gubernatorial runoff in Khakassia: Media report that Fair Russia's candidate for the head of Khakassia Andrey Filyagin has withdrawn from the second round of gubernatorial elections, planned to be held on 7 October. A gubernatorial runoff in Khakassia will now be rescheduled. Communist Party's candidate Valentin Konovalov may face candidate from the Party of Growth Alexander Myakhar, who came fourth in the first round of governor elections in Khakassia. Experts speak of possible scenarios, including an option to declare the elections in Khakassia invalid. Meanwhile, press reports that Putin has appointed Mikhail Razvozhayev as acting head of Khakassia. Until now, Razvozhayev has been Deputy Minister for North Caucasus Affairs. (Kommersant, NG, RBK)

5 oktober 2018

Tensions in Ingushetia: A rally was staged on Thursday in Magas (Ingushetia) to protest against an agreement on the administrative border between Ingushetia and Chechnya, which was signed on 26 September by Ingush head Yevkurov and Chechen leader Kadyrov. Reportedly, law enforcement officers shot in the air during the rally, no one was injured. Novaya Gazeta reports that according to protest telegram-channels, up to 10,000 people gathered for the protest action. Local police put the number of protesters at about 2,000. (Kommersant, MK, MT, Novaya Gazeta)

8 oktober 2018

Protests in Ingushetia against land-swap deal with Chechnya: The government of Ingushetia has granted permission to hold a protest against an agreement on the administrative border with Chechnya in Magas (Ingushetia's capital) from 8 October till 15 October. The Ingush parliament plans to hold a second vote on the deal on 8 October. Nezavisimaya Gazeta, meanwhile, reports that activists in Ingushetia are collecting signatures for the resignation of Ingush head Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. (Interfax, Kommersant, MK, NG)

9 oktober 2018

Tensions in Ingushetia: Presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District Motovnikov and the head of the Presidential Administration's internal policy department Yarin held meetings with public representatives of Ingushetia. The meetings were held against the background of ongoing protests in Ingushetia against a land-swap deal with Chechnya. (Kommersant)

10 oktober 2018

FSB head: six terrorist attacks prevented in Russia in 2018: At a meeting of the National Antiterrorist Committee on Tuesday in Makhachkala, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Bortnikov said that six terrorist attacks had been prevented in Russia this year. At the same time, he pointed out that a number of serious threats remain in the North Caucasus Federal District. (RG)

15 oktober 2018

Situation in Ingushetia: The government of Ingushetia has granted permission to hold a rally in Magas (Ingushetia's capital) on 16-17 October to protest against an agreement on the administrative border between Ingushetia and Chechnya. Kommersant reminds that the rally in Magas has been launched since 4 October. According to media reports, in a phone call, President Putin discussed the situation in the region with the head of Ingushetia Yevkurov. Yevkurov told Ekho Moskvy radio station that Putin stressed the need to talk to protesters. (Kommersant, RBC; Ekho Moskvy)

17 oktober 2018

Situation in Ingushetia: On Tuesday in Pyatigorsk, an Ingush delegation met with Presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District Matovnikov and the head of the Presidential Administration's internal policy department Yarin. Kommersant writes that representatives of protesters in Ingushetia have been offered to address issues pertaining to an agreement on the administrative border with Chechnya within the framework of a special commission which will also involve representatives of the Ingush government. The daily reminds that the Ingush authorities have granted permission to hold a protest in Magas (Ingushetia's capital) until 17 October. (ii) MK and Novaya Gazeta report on the case of Amnesty International employee Oleg Kozlovsky, who was abducted and beaten in Ingushetia on 6 October. Representatives of Amnesty International have discussed the incident with the head of the Presidential Human Rights Council Fedotov, the office of Russian Human Rights Commissioner Moskalkova and Ingush ombudsman Ozdoyev. (Kommersant, MK, Novaya Gazeta)

31 oktober 2018

Ingushetia's Constitutional Court rules against land-swap deal with Chechnya: Ingushetia's Constitutional Court has found that the agreement on the administrative border between Ingushetia and Chechnya was inconsistent with the Ingush Constitution. Press recalls that the signing of the deal sparked protests in Ingushetia. Meanwhile, the head of Ingushetia Yevkurov suggested that the issue be considered by the Russian Constitutional Court. Kommersant also highlights that the World Ingush Congress has demanded that direct elections of Ingushetia's head should be reinstated. (Interfax, Kommersant, MK, RBC, Vedomosti)